Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($167,900 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($886 vs $1,466)
51% less violent crime than Lowell
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Lowell by $6,113/yr
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $6,113 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 28°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Cedar Rapids
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
51% lower
261.5 vs 532.5 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$195k less
$167,900 vs $362,800
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Lowell
Median Income
$6,113
$73,008 vs $66,895/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 34.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 18 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids wins 18 and Lowell wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Cedar Rapids to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $362,800 median home), income ($66,895 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Lowell, MA are about 1,039 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.